Page 14 of Nothing to Tell

Carnell’s arm went around Adara as she tucked her face in at his chest.Oh, God, she’d be crying in a minute.

“You’re a snake,” Harper hissed at Damon.“There was absolutely no need for you to talk like that.What exactly did you think—”

“Come on, Harpy, you’re the Contrast Sisters,” Damon said with the nerve to actually smile.“The slut and the prude.”

He always had the worst sense of humor.

“Damon,” Charissa chastised, which was at least some proof she had a mind of her own.

Not that Damon heard her.

His arrogance might not be surprising, but it did disgust her.

“Never more of a man than when you’re stepping on those around you to get up top.Do you feel good?”Harper asked.“Do you feel better about being less than slime?We’ll all feel better when we remember what a jerk you are, but for you… repulsive is for life.”

Carnell took Adara away.Good.Everyone should be far away from him.Her included.She strode off, unable to be near her bastard of an ex for another second.The jerk had ruined Adara’s night, her very important night.

Storming away was needlessly dramatic, especially when, uh, she didn’t have anywhere to go.Still with her, Bastian must’ve sensed her lack of direction.He captured her hand and used her momentum to sweep her around into his arms on the dance floor again.

Burying her face in his jacket, her composure needed a minute.

“That guy’s a piece of work,” Bastian said.“You’re still not over that?You’ve got some taste in men, Sweet.”

“Don’t goad me,” she mumbled, pressing her face against him.“I feel awful… dirty and violated that he ever touched me.My dad brought him into our lives, but… I’m disgusted with myself.”

“Did you really hit him?”Somehow the way she moved against him relayed confirmation.“Good.How did you restrain yourself?He deserves so much more than one hit.”She managed to sob out a laugh.“Are you crying?”

Resting her palms on him, she couldn’t bring herself to lift her head yet.Being there was nice, in his embrace, nestled in close, hands on his chest, either side of her face.Was it too much to ask to exist in this safe place for a while longer?

Crying wasn’t the right descriptor, maybe on the inside.Everything was such a mess.Her life was such a mess.

“I won’t ruin your suit,” she said, easing back to curl her fingers around his tie.“I promise.”

“Screw the suit, Sweet,” he said, squeezing her.

Oh, it felt good.No man ever held her this way.Should they be so familiar so soon?It didn’t feel wrong.Maybe it should.

“It’s a nice suit.”

“I have plenty of them.Do you want me to hit him?We can pay off the witnesses.”

Another laugh bled from her lips.This guy had some talent.

“Bastian…” she whispered as he stroked her hair.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for tonight,” she said, hazarding a glance up to his concern.

Far from sight, his dimple was hidden somewhere behind his frown.Already she missed it.Weird.

“You’re upset.You shouldn’t thank me when—”

“I’d forgotten…”

Damon crashing unwelcome into her life again had distracted her from the truth that should’ve saved her from embarrassment.

“Forgotten what?”